Tuesday, April 19, 2011

On testing...

(Found this on another site...enjoy, it's hilarious and true)

When in the course of trying to conceive (TTC), it will become periodically necessary to administer a home pregnancy test (HPT) to determine if intercourse successfully resulted in fertilization and subsequent implantation. The following guides are written with step-by-step instructions to help you successfully administer your HPT. Please note, guidelines for women who are fertility-challenged will be modified slightly in separate instructions at the end.



Guide To Taking A Home Pregnancy Test (Fertile Version)


1) Decide to “Not-Not Try” with your partner. Let’s just see what happens. (Alternate step, become intoxicated and forget to use contraceptives.)
2) Realize your period is a week late! Oh you, always forgetting.
3) Go to the store and purchase the prettiest pregnancy test, or perhaps one that is on sale, and go to the counter to purchase. Oh goodness, I wonder if the salesclerk will notice!
4) At home, follow the test’s instructions. This is where it can get a little confusing… pee ON the stick. That’s right.
5) Set it down and walk away. Hmmm… you haven’t steam cleaned the carpets for a while. And you’ve been meaning to organize that pantry—that soup won’t alphabetize itself!
6) Oh my! You almost forgot; now where did you put that pesky test?
7) Well will you look at that, there’s two lines. What does that mean again?
8) You’re pregnant, congrats! Now wasn’t that easy?


Guide To Taking A Home Pregnancy Test (Fertility-Challenged Women)


1) Sigh, are you really sure you want to take another test?
2) Honestly, your period isn’t due for five more days.
3) Ok, it’s your mortgage payment. Let’s hit the store.
4) Make sure to get a variety. Digital, early result, and that Asian version with the baby playing tug of war with Pokemon.
5) Might as well hit the dollar store too. Pick up 20 tests there.
6) Give the salesclerk the stink eye when she looks at you curiously.
7) Rush home. Do you wait till tomorrow morning? Or take it right now? Decide on the dollar store test for now, save the expensive one for tomorrow morning.
8) One line. Well, not even quite one line… it looks more like the test is flipping you the bird. Oh real nice, dollar store test!
9) Throw it in the garbage. But on top.
10) After a few hours, go back and rummage through the garbage to find that test. How does it look now? Even a shadow? No? Well you probably tested too late in the day, or too early in your cycle. And you had a lot of water today.
11) Next morning, take a fancy digital test. You can always trust a computer, right?
12) “Not Pregnant” read-out on the digital display. You made that decision too fast! Maybe if you had just waited a little longer, the line would have shown up. Never trust a computer!
13) Crack open the digital pregnancy test. Maybe the screen was confused.
14) Damn. Thank God you got those non-computerized tests, those will know for sure.
15) Next morning, take your early result pregnancy test. Hold it up to your face (pee side away, of course), and attempt to Jedi mind control the test into having two lines.
16) Just one line. Wait, is that a shadow? Why don’t we have a magnifying glass?! Nope still one line. Place on your counter for further analysis at a later time.
17) Fifteen minutes later, go back and check… anything yet? Well this one was probably a dud. You know how common a false negative is?
18) Next morning, take that Pokemon test. It claps and cheers when you pee on it, how fun!
19) Only ONE line. Cheap foreign imports! Add it to your row of tests, for comparison sake. Does today’s test look less negative than the past ones?
20) Continue steps 1-19 until you obtain a positive test.
21) Hahahaha, sucker. Positive test isn’t going to happen. Return to store to purchase mortgage payment in feminine supplies.
22) Come home, and open up a fresh box of wine. Wait to do it all over again next month, or whenever Aunt Flo decides to show up.



Sunday, April 17, 2011

Beach Trip...

I had such a wonderful, relaxing time at the beach.  We went a little too early in my opinion.  It was rainy and chilly most of the time...we still managed to get a little sun though :)  I didn't take nearly enough pics, but here are a few. 



My sister-in-law and mother-in-law...I'm such a lucky girl :)







Love this pic...bro-in-law and sis-in-law and my hot hubs :)


We went to Myrtle Beach in SC, this is where my sister and I and my parents would vacay every summer.  I was hoping to go back and see the same sights and feel the same feelings I did when I was a kid.  Unfortunately, some of the "sights" and attractions were torn down and I guess I've just outgrown MB?  Since my mom passed away, I'm always seeking some sort of nostalgic feeling when I go to old places we used to go as a family.  Back when life was simple, my parents were together and my mom was alive.  It's hard because I don't have a big family whatsoever, and it's just my sister that lives close by.  I love reminiscing with her about past times with my parents, but she has her own family now with four children, making her own memories.  All I have left of my mother is memories...and sometimes it just isn't enough, but I know it has to be.  There will come a day that I will finally have children of my own, and I can create memories with them that they can look back on...trying their very best to find that nostalgic feeling I look for now.


Thursday, April 7, 2011

Lately....

I'm such a boring lazy blogger!  I've told ya'll before, I don't blog about much more than my infertility...what an interesting life I lead, I tell ya ;) 

The only fairly interesting things going on:

A) I'm going to the beach this Saturday...Hallelujah!! (will post pics when I get back)
B) We truly are trying to build a house, and I do think that will be fun to blog about (for me anyways).  Our ideas/plans to build on a certain piece of land have changed, so we are working on something else that is just fantastic!! (God is GOOD)
C) I'm approaching my 33rd birthday and I wanna be sick.  Not sure if anyone understands me when I say that IF I had a child and was turning 33 I wouldn't feel so old...but, I've barely started down that road and I'm feeling it.
D) I just started another round of Clomid last night....OOOPS, that was fertility related...hahhaha, I can't help it!

So last month was unsuccessful, the fertility fairies, once again, were not on my side!!  I'm not doing an IUI this month, just a medicated round.  I'm hoping I won't ever have to do another IUI, and either naturally or with Clomid assistance, I will get pregnant.  I go for my follie scan next Friday and I'm hoping and praying for the best this cycle! 

Will post when I get back from the BEACH!!  Love ya'll!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Facts, Figures and Awareness

During my recovery time I thought I would, for giggles, add up the cost of infertility so far for us.  We only started to "tackle" our infertility after trying for about nine months.  So this cost has been in the past ten months.  This cost is everything from multiple ultrasounds, HSG, fertility meds, 3 IUI's, SA's, blood work and now my surgery (don't know what the anesthesia bill is yet).  Here are the facts and figures...give or take a few dollars, oh and this does NOT include the enormous amount of money spent on ovulation tests and pregnancy tests ;)

FACTS:  I'm not pregnant

FIGURES: Drum roll please.... $6,100!!


This is truly not a complaint, just putting into light the monetary effects of infertility.  I am MORE than grateful and even MORE blessed to be able to have done what we have done, even coming out of it without a baby.  It has brought us much closer in our marriage in a lot of different ways, and it has certainly taught me a lot about myself and others...something that I wouldn't really change if given the opportunity.  We will have a child that is wanted more than anything in this world...I can't wait for the day that Jeromy and I are so lost in love with our child...

My sister just texted me and said "Did you know March was Endometriosis Awareness Month"...no I did not.  This is pretty cool.  Endo is certainly not something that has affected me for a long time, but it has kept me from having children.  In doing some more research on it, it affects a lot of women in so many different ways.  It's a disease that can wreak havoc on girls and women, and overtime can travel as far as the brain!!  Unfortunately for most, it will reoccur time and time again and ultimately end up with a total hysterectomy :(  It's something that women should be aware of and pay close attention to.  Not sure what I can do to contribute to March's awareness, I will look into it, but I know that I can lift up women struggling with this disease and pray they find peace, resolution and comfort...free of endometriosis.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Follow up

Short recap, as I'm on pain meds and ready to lay my head down.  Surgery went well!!  Answered prayers all around.  First, from what my husband tells me, Dr J said my endometriosis was bad and affected all of my lady organs except my bowels...WOW!!  Good news for us because of our failed attempts at TTC.  It is what I wanted to hear...just praying that this surgery works for that purpose.  It is kinda scary knowing I had it that bad, because eventually it will come back.

I didn't get sick, but I did get quite nauseas and immediately asked for something to help with that.  I'm very sore, but actually feeling better than I thought I would feel!  The two most bothersome things are the fact that I can't pee real well because of the cathader.  What an awful feeling to have a full bladder and only be able to pee just a little, uughh...hope that doesn't last long.  Also, another side affect is the shoulder pain from air traveling upwards due to the carbon dioxide they bloat your abdomen with...OUCH!  This shoulder pain is actually worse than the abdomen pain.  But honestly, I can't complain, I am doing great!!

Once again, I can't say a big enough thank you for the sweet messages of support, prayers and love...I'm so grateful and lucky to have such great support, it means soo much to me!!!!

Since I came home all doped up yesterday, I can't stop praising God for all the undeserved answered prayers and blessings...God is sooo good!!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Randomness and Surgery...

My lap surgery is tomorrow...excited and nervous is how I'm feeling!  I'm nervous because I've never had surgery before, and you know the biggest thing I'm scared of.....throwing up after waking up!! ha!  Shouldn't be my biggest concern right?  I'm excited though because I'm praying and hoping that there is something there to "fix"!  It would be the biggest bummer if he went in and all looked fine.  Bummer because endo wouldn't be my "issue" and bummer because of how expensive it is!  In my pre-op I almost wanted to make a pact with my doc to tell my husband that there WAS endo, even if there wasn't.  My hubs just doesn't want all this done in vain.  But, as Dr J says, he wouldn't do this if he didn't truly think I had it, so we'll see...

Now for a bit of the most random thoughts and going ons:

*I wish I could blog about more than just my infertility!!
*Baseball season is upon us and I'm dreeeading it...wondering if I can even get pregnant during BB season because my hubs is soo incredibly "committed"
*Would like to get back to my "pre trying to make a baby and failing" weight
*Is hoping that my IRL friends/family and my sweet cyber friends would finally get their miracle too...I pray for you frequently by name!!
*Loves Emily on the Bachelor...team Emily!
*Is thinking if I got pregnant in a couple months, I might have a leap year baby ;)
*Gas prices...WTH??  Just bought a Tahoe...WTH??
*Reading "Prince of Tides", just started it and it already seems like a great pick!
*Wants twins...one and done, please and thank you ;)
*Sees the good in infertility every once in a while, there is ALWAYS some good to come out of suffering...
*Regarding the statement above, I fall more and more in love with my amazing and supportive husband everyday
*I don't want Oprah to end :(
*Can't wait to go on vacation in April...it's time!
*Hates having to be at work at 6:30am...blaaaahhhhhh I hate mornings!!
*I'm secretly scared to have a baby...I mean, it's life changing...but I'm so ready!
*Excited to be catching up on some movies this weekend while I recover
*Is hoping my awesome cousin has an amazing birthday today...LOVE YOU Jen!
*That's all, for now...

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Disturbing baby dreams

Just like when you're planning your wedding and you have these devastating dreams of wedding day disasters, I have the same about having a baby!!

This is not the first dream by far, and probably won't be the last.

Last night (or more like this morning) I dreamt I was pregnant...fun right??  NOT!  Why can't I have sweet dreams of having and holding a pretty, healthy little baby?  In all of my dreams I always have this SMALL baby bump, but yet I'm almost due.  Last night it was the same thing, and I kept asking the nurse why I was so small.  My hubs was there and I was worried why I was so small, but I kept saying to him "well at least I won't have much weight to lose" (this is a little fear of mine, all worth it, but I can see why it pops up in my dreams!). 

Anyways, so I feel these pains which I'm assuming are contractions.  My nurse walks me through the delivery room so I am familiar with the setup.  Wellll, this delivery room was a stage and there was an audience to watch me deliver, mostly friends and family.  The nurse explained there would also be another lady next to me delivering too and that there were people there for her, but watching me as well.  I remember thinking in my dream how odd that was, but I never questioned it.

After the interesting tour, my nurse sat me down and started going over some test results.  I was so anxious to hear them, because I just knew there was a problem because I was so small.  The nurse starts laughing hysterically, and I keep asking her "What? What?".  She said, "Your baby definitely has some problems, not even sure surgery will fix them.  Your babies heart has some major issues and it probably won't survive, but we'll just have to wait and see."  I just remember feeling so sunk with despair, anguish and sadness while this crazy lady just kept laughing...and then I woke up....thank God!!!!

Pleeeease Lord, no more bad dreams like this!!!!  Apparently I have a lot going on in that subconscious mind of mine.  My sister-in-law and I were just talking about dreams and how they make you feel right when you wake up.  It's like you still feel that same emotion that was in your dream, right when you wake up and it takes a while for it to dissipate.  She had a dream of her hubs cheating (I've had a few of those too), and you wake up MAD as heck at your hubs...as if he TRULY did exactly what you dreamt about.  If I had a bad dream about someone, I have to call them to tell them I love them or see how they're doing.  But, these baby dreams...I just have to put it out of my mind!